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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Roger Ailes Is Out as Head of Fox News | Roger Ailes Is Out as Head of Fox News |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Roger Ailes stepped down on Thursday as chairman and chief executive of Fox News, ending a 20-year reign as head of the cable network he built into a ratings juggernaut and an influential platform for Republican politics. | Roger Ailes stepped down on Thursday as chairman and chief executive of Fox News, ending a 20-year reign as head of the cable network he built into a ratings juggernaut and an influential platform for Republican politics. |
| Rupert Murdoch, the 85-year-old media mogul who started Fox News with Mr. Ailes, will assume the role of chairman and will be an interim chief executive of Fox News channel and Fox Business Network until a permanent replacement for Mr. Ailes is found. | |
| Mr. Ailes will receive about $40 million as part of a settlement agreement, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. As part of the agreement, Mr. Ailes cannot start a competitor to Fox News. He will continue to make himself available as an adviser to Mr. Murdoch on an interim basis, the person said, though he will not be directly involved with Fox News or its owner, 21st Century Fox. | |
| In a statement, Mr. Murdoch praised Mr. Ailes, 76, and his “remarkable contribution” to the company, without making mention of the sexual harassment scandal that felled him. | In a statement, Mr. Murdoch praised Mr. Ailes, 76, and his “remarkable contribution” to the company, without making mention of the sexual harassment scandal that felled him. |
| “Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years,” Mr. Murdoch said. “Fox News has given voice to those who were ignored by the traditional networks and has been one of the great commercial success stories of modern media.” | “Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years,” Mr. Murdoch said. “Fox News has given voice to those who were ignored by the traditional networks and has been one of the great commercial success stories of modern media.” |
| In the statement, Mr. Murdoch’s sons, James and Lachlan, likewise praised Mr. Ailes before adding that they were committed to “to maintaining a work environment based on trust and respect.” | |
| Mr. Ailes’s position atop Fox News was thrown into doubt two weeks ago after a former anchor, Gretchen Carlson, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. Mr. Ailes denied the accusations, but 21st Century Fox began an internal review and ultimately determined that he could no longer remain in the job. | |
| In a letter to Mr. Murdoch on Thursday, Mr. Ailes wrote: “Having spent 20 years building this historic business, I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry.” | |
| A copy of the letter was provided by Mr. Ailes’s lawyer, Susan Estrich. | |
| Though he made no mention of the investigation or the sexual harassment lawsuit, Mr. Ailes said, pointedly, “I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions. Many of these talented journalists have deservedly become household names known for their intelligence and strength, whether reporting the news, fair and balanced, and offering exciting opinions on our opinion programs.” | |
| Mr. Murdoch cut short a vacation he was on with his wife, Jerry Hall, on the French Riviera to return and attend to Mr. Ailes’s departure agreement. His sons, who have assumed leadership positions in the company, have been in contact with their father this week discussing Mr. Ailes’s future. | Mr. Murdoch cut short a vacation he was on with his wife, Jerry Hall, on the French Riviera to return and attend to Mr. Ailes’s departure agreement. His sons, who have assumed leadership positions in the company, have been in contact with their father this week discussing Mr. Ailes’s future. |
| The elder Mr. Murdoch was addressing the Fox News newsroom Thursday afternoon. | The elder Mr. Murdoch was addressing the Fox News newsroom Thursday afternoon. |
| Outside the Fox production bureau at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, the veteran Fox News anchor Brit Hume expressed sadness upon hearing the news. | |
| “I’m absolutely heartbroken that all this happened,” he said. “I love the guy, and I’m heartbroken.” | |
| He added, “When I said I love the guy, that’s present tense.” |